“This is going to be a very special Christmas,” said Laura Del Valle. “It’s going to be complete.”

“This is going to be a very special Christmas,” said Laura Del Valle. “It’s going to be complete.”

Image 8 of 8

Vet surprises son at elementary school in El Lago

1 / 8

Back to Gallery

It was an emotional homecoming for one Seabrook area family on Wednesday.

Six-year old Christian Del Valle thought he just was one of the first-graders at Ed White E-Stem Elementary in El Lago invited to watch a special performance of “The 12 Days of Gym Class Dance” by PE teachers Wendy Clough and April Fortenberry. Christian and his classmates had been told that all the news reporters and cameras were there to capture the one-time only performance. When singled out to identify the mystery guest underneath a costume, Christian was fairly certain it was the school’s principal, Matt Paulson.

“I’m here to surprise my son, I’ve been gone for a year and he doesn’t know I’m here, yet,” said Senior Airman Armondo Del Valle, who has been stationed at the Korean Osan Air Base for the past 12 months.

Del Valle has only seen his family once, in June, since last December.

“He (Christian) knows I’m coming home soon, just not today,” he said.

Pulling down the costume for the big reveal, Christian came face to face with his father.

For about a minute, father and son embraced. There were no words, but tears said it all.

“I’m not much of a crier, and I didn’t think I’d react that way,” said Del Valle.

According to his grandmother, Jennie Gray, Christian had an idea his father would be coming home, but he wasn’t expected him on this day.

“He knew it was soon, he knew it might be close to Christmas, but he just didn’t know the day,” she said. “He couldn’t get the iPad working to see the calendar so he couldn’t get the date.”

After the reveal, the family stayed close to each other, with Christian holding onto both his parents.

His mother, Laura Del Valle, had worked with the school staff to plan the surprise.

“I miss him just being here,” she said of her husband.

For the school staff and for Clough and Fortenberry, it was a very special opportunity.

“We see this all the time on TV, and so what an honor for us to be a part of something like this,” said Clough.

Senior Airman Del Valle had actually returned home the night before, but slept in a recliner to keep the surprise intact. It was going to be the best early Christmas present to his son.

“It was worth it,” he said.

The school let Christian out of class early and the family’s first stop was going to be the park.

“This is going to be a very special Christmas,” said Laura Del Valle. “It’s going to be complete.”